May 2, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - In their final home stand of the 2009 season the Santa Clara softball team dropped both contests of Saturday's doubleheader to PCSC rival Sacramento State. SCU (6-47, 1-17 PCSC) fell 8-1 in the early game and 7-2 in the final game of the day to the Hornets. Despite the rough outing, senior captain Noelani Ho'opi'i posted a strong return to the lineup.
After missing about a month of play due to a broken finger, the Bronco infielder saw her first action since going down with the injury. Ho'opi'i, the Santa Clara designated player, went 1-for-2 with a RBI single to center field. The Kaneohe, Hawai'i native scored SCU's lone run in their 8-1 opening game loss to Sacramento State.
After being Santa Clara's designated hitter in the first game, Ho'opi'i took the field at first base in the final contest of the day. Junior transfer Megan Smith led the Bronco offense in the late game. The Santa Clara second baseman slammed the ball over the center field wall to score the Broncos' first run of the game and tally her second career home run.
Smith's lone run in the bottom of the first sent SCU into the second inning down 2-1. After coming within one, CSUS scored on a Santa Clara throwing error and earned a fourth run off a Desiree Beltran RBI single to center field. The Hornets tacked on three additional runs in the fourth inning, to conclude their seven-run outing.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Broncos' scored their second and final run of the game. With two outs on the board, freshman Kristin Welsh doubled to left center. Outfielder Briana Knight followed at the plate with a RBI double to center field to score Welsh. Knight then advanced to third on a CSUS fielding error; however Santa Clara could not capitalize on the error and get on the board again.
SCU looks to split the series tomorrow, when they close out the 2009 season with a doubleheader at noon. Prior to the early game, the Broncos' will celebrate Senior Day and honor the career of Ho'opi'i.
